Three of golf's greatest legends officially began the 61st Masters at 8 a.m. Thursday.

Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead were the honorary starters for the tournament, a total of 107 years of Master experience among them. Phil Harison was the official starter for the 50th consecutive year.

Nelson, 85, and Harison are good friends. Nelson won the 1937 Masters and the 1942 Masters and had runner-up finishes in 1941 and 1947.

``There is no better starter than Phil Harison and I appreciate it very, very much,'' said Nelson of his long-time friend.

Sarazen and Nelson began their honorary duties in 1981 and Sarazen has been a fixture ever since. Snead began in 1984, the year after his last Masters as a player. He, too, has not missed a year as a starter.

Nelson competed in 29 Masters, with his first coming in 1935, when he finished in a tie for ninth place, and his last in 1966. The Byron Nelson Classic in Dallas, formerly the Dallas Open, is named in his honor.

Sarazen, 95, is the oldest honorary starter ever at the Masters. As did Like Harmon Horton Smith in 1934 (the first Masters) and Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979, Sarazen won the tournament in his first appearance (1935). He missed the first Masters in 1934 due to a prior obligation.

He had one of the greatest shots in Masters history in 1935 when he hit a double eagle at No. 15. He competed in 34 Masters, ending in 1973, and was a member of six Ryder Cup teams - 1927, 1929, 1931, 1933, 1935 and 1937.

Sarazen was the inventor of the sand wedge, building the first one in his Florida garage. The legend was glad to be honored at Thursday's opening round, but he would have preferred a warmer morning.

``It feels great (on being at the Masters) but it's too early in the morning,'' Sarazen said.

Sarazen also joked that at age 20 he could use a driver and iron on No. 15, just as Tiger Woods, 21, does now. Sarazen said he has watched the young sensation on television.

``He's a great player and there is going to be a lot more great players from all over the world,'' Sarazen said.

Snead, 84, is a three-time Masters champion, winning in 1949, 1952 and 1954. His 146 Masters rounds are a tournament record.

The Hot Springs, Va., native has won more times (eight) at the Greensboro, N.C., tour event than anybody at one stop. His 1965 victory in Greensboro made him the oldest player - at 52 years, 10 months, eight days - to win an event on the PGA Tour.

He said it is a memorable experience to be back in Augusta once again for the Masters.

``This is the greatest golf tournament in the world,'' Snead said. ``You've got the greatest golfers in the world here for the greatest tournament in the world and that's the best that it can get.''